Armor on budget

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Ave!

I was pondering on getting some armor for re-enactment and LARP purposes(I do both). But there is a catch: money. So, I ask you, what would be the cheapest way of getting armor? The period would be 0-1000 AD, mostly the latter 500 years of said period. I can recall seing a painting in a fact book of a saxon, around 400 AD, wearing an armor that consisted of a shirt(material unknown) with small rectangular plates attached to it. A bit like scale, but without the overlapping. Any info on that, anyone?


Thanks for all help and advice, and thanks for taking the time to look in!

[Dan Howard]

There is no armour made of scales that don't overlap (except in movies like Braveheart). If the illustration looks like that then it hasn't been drawn very well. If you want cheap armour then get a spool of wire and a couple of pliers and make some butted mail.

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There is no armour made of scales that don't overlap. If the illustration looks like that then it hasn't been drawn very well. If you want cheap armour then get a spool of wire and a couple of pliers and make some butted mail.

Actually, the plates are slightly apart. Could be a mistake on the painters part.

How common where breastplates in the timeframe I'm looking at?

And also: this is "barbarian", not Roman, just so we are clear on that.

Thanks!

[arklore70]

I'd recommend some type or version of butted mail. The style of the mail will largely depend on what period of time and what type of barbarian you are looking to do an impression on.

The Enemies and Allies of Rome Forums Should help you out.

SOTW,Find-It-Armory.com, Nix Imperial, and even Ebay should be able to offer you a few products under $300.00. I think you might be able to get a butted mail shirt with half sleeves for under $150.00 at Find It Armory. SOTW can get you a couple of Celtic styles.

V/r
Mike